The Travel Mentor

Travel Smarter

Uber may be the king of ridesharing services, but Lyft is not far behind. As with Uber, Lyft gives me the ability to request, track, and pay for a ride at the tip of my fingers. It’s such a simple yet brilliant idea that millions are now using. But with any new technology comes pros and cons. You hear stories on the news and from friends and family. Some swear by the service while others avoid it at all costs.…

In Beijing, it seems as if there’s a roast duck restaurant on every corner. One of them is Jingzun Peking Duck Restaurant. The casual restaurant, busy with both locals and expats, is popular for their affordable and delicious Peking duck. Peking duck is a specialty in Beijing. If you’re a foodie headed here, you should add it to your food bucket list. With that said, eating roast duck is often a special occasion, meaning expensive and fancy. When I’m in…

Planning to fly between U.S. and Middle East or Africa? If so, you may need to leave your electronics including iPads and laptops in your checked baggage. This ban includes, but is not limited to, electronics such as laptops, digital cameras, iPads, tablets, DVD players, and gaming devices. Exempt from the list are cellular phones, smartphones, and medical electronic devices. Based on new intelligence, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) decided to enforce these new…

Out of all the tonkatsu (fried pork cutlet) restaurants in Tokyo, numbering in the thousands, nowhere seems to do it as well as Tonki near Meguro Station. For almost 80 years, Tonki has been serving tonkatsu, a type of pork cutlet which is breaded in Japanese-style panko breadcrumbs and deep-fried until crispy. It may be old-fashioned, but Tonki is an institution of Tokyo. Many will debate which is better: Tonki or Maisen. I tend to side with Tonki and I’m…

If you are planning to travel to Japan, and want to explore this beautiful country by train, then purchasing a Japan Rail Pass (JR Pass) is a must. These train passes, good for 7, 14, or 21 consecutive days of travel, will allow you to move around the country effortlessly, and most importantly, economically. When traveling to a new country, and using a new form of transportation, you probably have questions such as: What is a Japan Rail Pass? How…

Located in a small corner of Chelsea Market is Los Tacos No. 1, an unassuming taco stall serving up some of the best tacos in New York City. For something so simple, it’s surprising how hard it is to find a decent taco on the East Coast, until now. Three friends, from Mexico and Southern California, have answered the prayers of foodies on the East Coast by bringing authentic and delicious Mexican tacos to New Yorkers. The Los Tacos No.…

A few miles west of Old Town Havana is El Aljibe, a state-owned, open-air restaurant popular with tourists for the family style roast chicken, served the same way for over 60 years. The first time I heard about El Aljibe was while watching Anthony Bourdain’s show ‘Parts Unknown.’ When I saw Anthony eating perfectly roasted chicken marinated in a secret orange sauce and luscious black beans, I knew I had to try this place. If you don’t have a rental…

While searching for places to eat in Iceland, I discovered Sveitagrill Miu (Mia’s Country Grill), a tiny fish and chips food truck located near Skogafoss waterfall. Iceland, waterfalls, fish and chips. In my opinion, it doesn’t get better than that. If you aren’t familiar with Skogafoss, make sure you add it to your list of must visit places to see in Iceland. At 200 feet tall, Skogafoss is one of the biggest and most powerful waterfalls in the county. With…

13. Nanzenji Temple – Kyoto Not far from one end of the Philosopher’s Path in Kyoto is Nanzenji Temple, an extensive temple surrounded by smaller sub-temples. While the main grounds are free to enter, the surrounding temples require an entrance fee. Hard to miss is San-mon Gate, an enormous wooden gate first constructed in 1628. Just outside Hojo is a unique site that seems out of place: a large brick aqueduct. This aqueduct was built during the Meiji Period between…

Before Mammoth Brewing Company and The EATery, there was Whiskey Creek, one of the most popular restaurants and happy hours in Mammoth Lakes, CA. When I found out Whiskey Creek would be closing, I almost cried. For years, I stopped by Whiskey Creek for a drink or bite to eat after a long day of snowboarding at Mammoth Mountain in the winter or fishing in the summer. Luckily, the torch was passed on to Mammoth Brewing Company which continued the…